Veterans Day 2008
REMEMBERING THOSE WHO SERVE
Armistice Day
The 11th month, 11th day, 11th hour, 11minute
Click on images to enlarge.
Today at Klein Memorial Cemetery in Texas, Dustin’s mother placed the newly acquired bronze flag holder which matches his military gravemarker. It is made by The Flag Guys in New Windsor, NY. The commemorative flag holder is just like the the ones at each of the veterans’ graves, placed by the local VFW, in the cemetery in Wisconsin near the Donica summer home. The Donicas, because of cemetery regulations, will display this holder just on special holidays. Dustin’s Dad attended the Veterans Day Parade in downtown Houston where he and Judy were invited to sit with the Gold Star Mothers & Fathers. This day of remembrance still remains a very emotional day for Dustin’s entire family.
Dustin’s Intermediate School, where he attended grades 6 - 8, also pays tribute to veterans on November 11th. The students take U.S. government and history classes, in addition to studying Texas history. For Veterans Day every year, each student creates a poster to honor a veteran that they know.
The posters include the veteran’s name, their relationship to the student, when and where the veteran served, medals of honor and a biographical sketch. The posters are then displayed at the front of Kleb Intermediate School and in the hallways. Less than ten years ago, Dustin and Courtney Donica made posters in memory of their maternal grandfather. Now Dustin is also honored on one of those posters, too.
The Veterans Day Weekend began for Judy & David at the bridge by Seabrook Shipyard in Texas where Dave worked on their boat. In the brisk wind, the unfurled flags were a reminder of the approaching day that our nation remembers our veterans.
At Arlington National Cemetery in Virgina, Dustin, his squad leader SSGT Henry W. Linck, and CPL Micah S. Gifford, all who served in the same 3/509th squad in Operation Iraqi Freedom and were KIA in December of 2006, were honored. Those who were wounded and are still serving from that squad were remembered, too. Another great Texan, Secretary of Defense Robert Gates, visited Section 60 and walked right in front of this site as he paid tribute to the veterans all across this country.
“Forget me not.”
